If love is a pill, and marriage an injection with big side effects, then what is the right prescription for girls' self-determination in India today?
Set against the city of Chennai in India the film intimately observes the options and perspectives of young women at "Paadhai", a home for disadvantaged girls offering shelter, learning and self-empowerment. Highlighting their insights into their situations, marked by real-life pressures and societal norms, the film's narrative unfolds through a series of storylines as we watch the characters share their personal stories, exploring tough challenges, hope, pain, love and marriage.
Crew
Director: N. Preston
Production: N. Preston
Editors: M. B. Lima, A. Zitzmann, C. Kittel
Distribution: Journeyman Pictures
Awards:
• 62nd DOK LEIPZIG, FILM PRIZE LEIPZIGER RING, audience award for an outstanding documentary film about human rights, democracy or civil engagement
• 8th FIDBA, Competition Award Section Gender and Generations
Screenings in numerous international film festivals.
working as a freelance film editor in Berlin and North Rhine-Westphalia since 2014
in German, English, French, Spanish, Catalan
member of German Film Editors Association (BFS) and German Documentary Association (AG DOK)
experience in independent feature films and full-length documentaries
collaborations in artistic, experimental and research & educational projects
guest lecturer and editing consultant at Academy of Media Arts Cologne and Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg
lecturer and editing mentor Workshop LabAV "Contested Territories" (EU Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme) - Madrid, 2024 - coordinated by Torero Film GbR
engaged with institutions and projects supporting social, political, historical and artistic subjects
art history and economics studies / master degree in film editing by Catalonia’s Film School (ESCAC)
always passionate about cinema and storytelling
editing is a powerful tool to change the world
editing is teamwork, continuous learning, exchange, awareness, sharing, sensitivity, comprehension
film editor
filmography -selection
* A place in the city, documentary, G. Silvestre, 65 min., in post-production
* Let’s be friends, M. Pipa/Filmakademie BW, documentary, 20 min., release: 2024 Goldener Spatz - Deutsches Kinder-Medienfestival
* First Taste, S. Gajewski/M. Krmek, BKM, documentary, 30 min., nominated for the DOK Talent Award at 2023 DOK.forum DOK.Fest Munich - Award: Best Focus on innovation at the 4th WORLD FOOD FORUM (WFF) FILM FESTIVAL 2024
* In deinen Händen, Academy of Media Arts Cologne/S. Dettmar, BKM, documentary, 66 min., release: 2023 Film Festival Max Ophüls Preis
* El murmullo de la marimba, Academy of Media Arts Cologne/G.-M. Becker, Film und Medienstifung NRW, documentary, 79 min., release: 2020 Int. Hofer Filmtage - Awards: Best feature documentary, FESTIVAL DE CINE LATINO AMERICANO - TEXAS NORTH&SOUTH; Special Mention of the Jury for the preservation of intangible heritage, 10th FESTIVAL INTERNACIONAL DE CINE DOCUMENTAL ACAMPADOC
* Langhans - Ein letzter Dokumentarfilm, doc-fiction, Conrad & Papadopoulos, 80 min., 2025
* Mutantin, S. Ortiz/A. Schumacher, documentary, 64 min., release: 2025 Film Festival Max Ophüls Preis
* Synchron Schwimmen, Academy of Media Arts Cologne/N. Schwitter, family drama/comedy, 25 min., 2024
* Sexploration - wie will’s wirklich?, Academy of Media Arts Cologne/L. Zielke, documentary, 90 min., release: 58. Int. Hofer Filmtage 2024
Role: Co-Editor
* Eine Hand, die Andere, L. Fichter/J. Westphal/Sevenpeaks, documentary, 70 min., release: 2023 Manhattan Independent Film Festival, VoD
* MAMiTA, Academy of Media Arts Cologne/L. Bäde, Film und Medienstifung NRW, documentary, 102 min.,
release: 2023 Philadelphia Latino Film Festival
* Girls of Paadhai, N. Preston, documentary, 90 min., release: 2019 DOK Leipzig - Awards: Leipziger Ring at DOK Leipzig; best documentary FIDBA, section Gender and Generations, VoD
Role: Co-Editor
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